JP2793932B2 - Automatic folding boom for cranes - Google Patents

Abstract

The jib (10) comprises a jib base (11), an intermediate jib-folding element (12) and a jib tip (13), which are articulated to each other (at 14, 15) at the level of their lower members. The intermediate element (12) is connected to the jib base (11) by a motorised member (36) controlling its pivoting about the axis of articulation (14). The jib tip (13) is connected to the jib base (11) by a coupling assembly (40) having three articulated members (41, 42, 43), the central member (41) of this assembly being connected by articulation to a fixed point of the intermediate element (12) and causing the jib tip (13) to pivot about the axis of articulation (15). Application to the production of automatically erected tower cranes. <IMAGE>

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is used in self-assembled cranes, especially on construction sites and civil engineering sites, from one site to another site or from one site to another site with minimal human intervention. It relates to the field of tower cranes which must be frequently folded in order to transport the road quickly and safely.

[0002] More precisely, the invention relates to an automatically collapsible boom for a crane of this kind, and in particular to the transfer of a crane from a working position with a boom element made up of a plurality of elements. Boom folding / expanding device capable of transitioning from a folded position to a working position for transport and vice versa.

For tower cranes with folding masts as well as tower cranes with self-assembling nesting masts, there are numerous solutions for boom folding to improve the crane transport position.

[0004] For example, French Patent No. 2,306,15
According to a first type described in No. 8, the boom has two elements, a boom leg connected to the head of the telescopic mast and a boom tip connected to the front end of the boom leg. On the other hand, a fixed length of rope connects the fixed point of the mast head to the fixed point of the boom tip, thereby aligning the work position from the folded position of the boom during the nesting movement of the mast. And vice versa.

The boom folding apparatus further requires that the crane be provided with a bundle and brace set used to raise the boom during mast nesting. In this embodiment, the fixed lengths of ropes and bundles and bracing sets must be adjusted periodically, especially to compensate for the permanent elongation of the ropes that progresses over time.

For example, French Patent No. 2,550,17
According to a second type described in No. 6, a boom articulated on the top of the mast is made of two or more elements articulated with each other and arranged at the level of each articulation, The bar linkage, which is operated by connecting or bracing one mechanism of the bar linkage to the mast top or a fixed point of one element of the boom, during the nesting movement of the mast if the mast is telescopic, or While raising the boom separately, ensure that the boom unfolds or folds.

[0007] Contrary to the previously described device, this device can be obtained and maintained with good accuracy over time. However, there are several limitations with this device that limit its preferred use to nested mast cranes. Because when the mast is not telescopic, the raising operation of the boom is performed by using a double pulley between the rear fixed rope and the rotating frame of the crane, and operating the double pulley by an assembly winch. This complicates execution and impairs overall accuracy.

For example, French Patent No. 2,368,43
According to a further third type described in No. 0, the boom articulated on the top of the mast is made by at least two elements interconnected so as to be articulated via a folding piece of the boom. I have. In the embodiment described in this document, the folding pieces fold the second part of the boom laterally with respect to the first part when the boom itself is folded against the mast of the crane for transport. Has functions. The folding piece of this known embodiment therefore does not allow the boom to be folded or unfolded in a vertical plane.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, from what has been described above, the present invention has been disclosed, independently of the other assembly steps of the crane, in a vertical plane, avoiding the various disadvantages identified above. It is an object of the present invention to provide a crane foldable boom of the type having a folding intermediate piece, which allows the boom to be securely folded and unfolded.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A boom of a crane according to the present invention is inserted between a relatively large length of the boom leg and at least two main boom elements at the boom tip and between the two main boom elements. Booms having at least one boom folding intermediate element of a relatively small length, known in the art, wherein all the boom elements are connected to one another about a substantially horizontal axis at the level of their lower frame. The crane boom may further comprise a boom folding intermediate element, wherein the adjacent main boom element is driven by a mechanized device that operates rotation of the boom folding intermediate element about an axis of connection with one of the adjacent main boom elements. , While the other adjacent main boom element is connected to the one main boom element by a coupling set having at least three articulated mechanisms. And the central mechanism of the three mechanisms is also connected by articulation to the fixed point of the boom folding intermediate element, thus causing the rotation of said other main boom element about its axis of connection with the boom folding intermediate element. It is characterized by:

The present invention uses a boom consisting of only two main components, a boom leg and a boom tip, and a single boom fold intermediate portion interposed between the boom leg and the boom tip. According to a simple embodiment of the invention, the boom folding intermediate element is connected to the boom leg by said mechanization device, while the coupling device set with three articulated mechanisms comprises a boom leg at the boom tip. The central mechanism of the connecting and connecting device set is also connected by articulation to the fixed point of the boom folding intermediate element.

Thus, the mechanization device directly operates the pivoting of the boom folding intermediate element with respect to the boom leg, and the coupling device set has a boom tip with respect to the boom folding intermediate element such that a complete folding of the boom as a whole is obtained. Is caused simultaneously with and as a result of said movement, with the boom tip folded over the boom leg.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the mechanization device for connecting the boom folding intermediate element to the boom leg is a double-acting hydraulic jack, the body of which is connected to the end of the upper frame of the boom leg, The rod is connected to the top of the boom folding intermediate element or vice versa.

According to one particular embodiment, the boom folding intermediate element has two tops which are longitudinally offset and are connected to the lower frame of said element by a double triangle on the side, the other top being First height slightly higher than the height of
The top receives the rod or body end of the jack,
The second top receives the articulating contacts of the central mechanism of the coupling set connecting the boom tip to the boom leg.

According to another feature, the boom leg is formed at its front end with two parts symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal mid-plane of the boom, with a double support having a height approximately equal to the height of the boom. A body, the top of which bears the connecting shaft of the first mechanism end of the coupling device set.

According to another feature, a coupling device set with three articulated mechanisms is provided, wherein the articulation shaft, supported by said dual support and arranged on the boom leg, forms a central mechanism. A single or a plurality of first connecting rods connected to a connecting shaft located at a first end of an elbow-shaped lever with two branches, the elbow of which is connected to the second of the boom folding intermediate elements And a second connecting rod or rods connected to a connecting shaft located at the other end of the central mechanism and a fixed connecting contact located at the rear end of the upper frame at the boom tip. Connect to

Regardless of the construction of the boom folding device, this device will not
The boom tip is completely folded over the boom legs, so that these two parts are almost parallel and form a horizontal distribution boom, especially when the jack rod is fully extended. Alignment of the boom legs, boom folding intermediate element and boom tip is obtained, i.e., along the crane boom, the movement of the load distribution trolley running on the lower frame of the three aligned boom elements. it can.

Furthermore, in the case of a horizontal distribution boom, the boom folding device according to the invention provides a "slack" of the pulling rope and the distribution rope when the boom is folded, regardless of the position of the boom tip relative to the boom leg. You can recover.

Thus, in total, a crane boom is created in which the folding and unfolding of the boom is performed automatically and independently of the crane assembly stage in which the boom is mounted, whatever the type of crane. In any case, the present invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, which show, by way of non-limiting example, one embodiment of this boom, which is self-folding.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A tower crane, shown schematically in FIG. 1, has a fixed or movable base frame 1 which, in a known manner, supports a rotating frame 3 by means of a turning device 2; The underframe 3 supports a counterweight 4 at the rear and a horizontal shaft 9 at the front.
Base mast 7 around which the back face is connected by articulation
A foldable mast 6 including an upper mast 8 and an upper mast 8 are connected around the horizontal axis 5.

The crane comprises a collapsible distribution boom 10 according to the invention, which is composed of three elements, here shown in sequence as a boom leg 11, a boom folding intermediate element 12 and a boom tip 13, respectively. And the three elements are interconnected by articulation about horizontal axes 14, 15 located on their lower frame (the meaning of the "lower" frame is that defined for the boom in the working position). .

The upper mast 8 is symmetrically arranged on both sides of the mast 6 and has a horizontal shaft 1 arranged at the base of the upper mast 8.
It is connected to the rotating frame 3 by two assembling branches 16 connected around a horizontal axis 18 arranged around 7 and at the rear of the rotating frame 3 respectively.

The boom 10 has a horizontal shaft 1 at the top of the mast 6.
9 and connected to the upper frame 22 of the boom leg 11
Is fixed by a brace 20 which inclines rearward of the crane and connects to the top 23 of a rigid bundle 24 connected to the base of the boom leg 11 about a horizontal axis 25. The rigid bundle 24 itself has a top 23
Is held in place by a rear fixing strut 26 that connects to a fixing point 27 arranged at the rear of the rotating frame 3.

The crane is mechanized for its assembly, ie for assembling the mast 6, raising and expanding the boom 10. As shown in detail in FIG. 2, a boom 10 of normal triangular cross section includes upper frames 22, 28 for boom leg 11 and boom tip 13, respectively, boom leg 11, boom folding intermediate element 12, and boom folding element 12, respectively. Regarding the boom tip portion 13, lower frames 29, 30, 31 and an upper frame 2 which form the base of the triangular cross section
Bar triangle set 32 connecting the lower frames 29,30,31 to form a rigid triangle portion
Having.

The boom folding intermediate element 12 having a relatively short length compared to the length of the boom leg 11 and the boom tip 13.
Has two vertices 33, 34 that are longitudinally offset, connected to the lower frame 30 by a bar triangular set 35, and also slightly offset in height. The tallest top 33 facing the boom leg 11 is located in the mid-plane of the boom 10, while the top 34 facing the boom tip 13 is double and
It is positioned substantially perpendicular to the lower frame 30 of the boom folding intermediate element 12 and is at the level of the upper frame 28 of the boom tip 13 when all elements of the boom 10 are aligned.

The folding device of the boom 10 according to the present invention comprises:
The body 37 has a double-acting hydraulic jack 36 connected to the end 38 of the upper frame 22 of the boom leg 11,
The rod 39 of the jack 36 is connected to the top 33 of the boom folding intermediate element and has two parts (elbow-shaped levers 41 and 2) symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal mid-plane of the boom 10.
A connecting device set 40 made of two double connecting rods 42, 43) connects the boom tip 13 to the boom leg 11 via the boom folding intermediate element 12.

The elbow-shaped lever 41 has two branches 44, 44 forming an obtuse angle directed toward the inside of the boom 10.
The lever 41 is connected to the top 34 of the boom folding intermediate element 12 at its elbow 46. The first double connecting rod 42 connects the upper end of a support piece 49 fixed to the front end of the boom leg 11 and the free end of the rear branch 44 of the elbow-shaped lever 41 by two connecting contacts 47, 48, respectively. Tie.

The support piece 49 together with the double connecting rod 42
Is a dual support formed of two parts symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal central plane of the boom. Double support 49
Is approximately equal to the height of the boom 10. The second double connecting rod 43 connects the front branch 45 of the elbow-shaped lever 41 and the rear end of the upper frame 28 of the boom tip 13 by two connecting contacts 50 and 51, respectively.

The three elements 11, 12, 13 of the boom 10
Is in a straight line as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rod 39 of the jack 36 has completely exited the jack body 37 and the upper frame 28 of the boom tip 13.
And the longitudinal stress at the top of the boom 10 during use is substantially aligned with the portion of the coupling set formed by the second double connecting rod 43 and the front branch 45 of the elbow-shaped lever 41. It is transmitted from the boom tip 13 to the boom leg 11 without significant discontinuity.

From the expanded position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, folding of the boom illustrated by FIGS. 4 to 6 takes place as follows. Double acting hydraulic jack 3 in return direction
6, the rod 39 is connected to the jack 36.
Of the boom folding intermediate element 1
The distance between the connecting contacts 33 and 38 supported by the boom leg 11 and the boom leg 11, respectively, is reduced.

From this, the two boom elements 12, 1
3 is a combination of the horizontal axis (serial contact) 1 of the boom 10
Rotate around 4. At the same time, the connecting contacts 47 and 51 supported by the boom leg 11 and the boom tip 13, respectively.
The distance between them is also reduced, causing rotation of the elbow-shaped lever 41 around the top (joint point) 34 of the boom folding intermediate element 12 and thus the boom tip 13 around the horizontal axis (joint point) 15 of the boom. Causes the rotation of.

Accordingly, the boom folding intermediate element 12 and the boom tip 13 are simultaneously moved through the intermediate position in FIGS. 4 and 5 until the boom tip 13 is completely located on the boom leg 11 respectively. Are rotated around the horizontal axes (sequential contacts) 14 and 15 of FIG.

In this final configuration shown in FIG. 6, the boom tip 13 is inverted and occupies a position substantially parallel to the boom leg 11, while the boom folding intermediate element 12 is folded down and the boom leg 11 It can be seen that it occupies a position almost perpendicular to. In this condition, in order to obtain a minimum folding height for transporting the crane, the boom folding intermediate element 12 has a length approximately equal to the sum of the height of the boom leg 11 and the height of the boom tip 13. There must be.

In order to extend the boom 10 from the folded position in FIG. 6, before reaching the extended end position in FIGS. 2 and 3, pass through the intermediate position in FIG. 5 and then in FIG. In addition, it goes without saying that the jack 36 is operated in the direction in which the rod 39 comes out to cause the opposite movement. The mechanization of the jack 36 can be operated independently of other movements of the crane assembly, and the boom can be folded at any position on the boom 10 and the crane equipped with this boom.

Of course, as can be seen from the foregoing, the present invention is not limited to only the automated collapsible boom embodiment for a crane described above by way of example. It includes all modifications and applications based on the same principle. Therefore, the following does not depart from the scope of the present invention. -Pneumatic or electric jacks, by the use of mechanized devices with telescopic functions other than double-acting hydraulic jacks;
A mechanism with a rack or with an endless screw-tangent gear can of course be used.

A modification of the details of the articulation device set, optionally with three or more articulated mechanisms. Due to the modification of the number of jacks, connecting rods, etc., these devices may be single, double or multiple. -With respect to the machinery and the coupling set, the arrangement is reversed such that the boom leg and the boom tip are interchanged.

By applying the same principle with a crane boom consisting of three or more elements, always with a main boom element and a shorter intermediate element, wherein the folding device as described above, Be unionized. − Tower cranes with nested masts, tower cranes with built-in elements, boom cranes, etc.
The same principle of the foldable boom is applied to other types of hoisting equipment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a self-assembled crane in a working position with a foldable boom according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed side view of the boom folding device when the boom is extended.

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view from above of the boom in the extended position corresponding to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view similar to FIG. 2, but showing a first stage of boom folding;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a second stage of the boom folding.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a stage where the boom is folded.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 base frame 2 direction changing device 3 rotating frame 4 counterweight 5, 9, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 25, 47,
48, 50, 51 Horizontal axis (continuous contact) 6 Foldable mast 7 Base mast 8 Upper mast 10 Distribution boom 11 Boom leg 12 Boom folding intermediate element 13 Boom tip 16 Assembly branch line 20 Bracing 21, 27 Fixed point 22 , 28 Upper frame 23, 33, 34 Top 24 Rigid bundle 26 Rear fixing bracing 29, 30, 31 Lower frame 32, 35 Bar triangular set 36 Double-acting hydraulic jack 37 Body of jack 36 38 End 39 of upper frame 22 Rod of jack 36 40 Connecting device set 41 Elbow-shaped lever 42,43 Double connecting rod 44,45 Branch of lever 41 46 Same elbow 49 Support

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] A relatively long boom leg (11).
And at least two main boom elements at the boom tip (13) and at least one boom folding intermediate element (12) of relatively small length inserted between the two main boom elements, the entire boom element (11, 12, 13) in a self-collapsing boom for cranes interconnected about a substantially horizontal axis (14, 15) at the level of their lower frame (29, 30, 31); The boom folding intermediate element (12) is turned by the mechanization device (36) which operates the rotation of the boom folding intermediate element (12) about the connection axis (14) with one of the adjacent main boom elements (11). It is connected to one adjacent main boom element (11) while the other adjacent main boom element (1) is connected.
3) has at least three articulated mechanisms (41, 4)
2 and 43) connected to the one main boom element (11) by means of a coupling device set (40), the central mechanism (41) of the three mechanisms also being a fixed point of the boom folding intermediate element (12). Are connected by articulation at (34),
Accordingly, an automatic folding boom for a crane characterized in that the rotation of the other main boom (13) is caused around a connecting axis (15) with a boom folding intermediate element (12). 2. The boom leg (11) and the boom tip (13), and the boom leg (1).
2. An automatic folding boom for a crane as claimed in claim 1, comprising a single boom folding intermediate element (12) inserted between 1) and the boom tip (13), wherein the boom folding intermediate element (12) comprises: A coupling device set (40) with three articulated mechanisms (41, 42, 43) is connected to the boom leg (11) by said mechanization device (36) while connecting the boom leg (11). Boom tip (1
3) an automatic folding boom for a crane, characterized in that said coupling device set (40) is also connected at (34) to a fixed point of the boom folding intermediate element (12). 3. The mechanized device for connecting the boom folding intermediate element (12) to the boom leg (11) is a double-acting hydraulic jack (36), wherein the body of the jack (37) comprises a boom leg (11). Articulated at the end of the upper frame (22) at (38) and the jack rod (39) is articulated to the top (33) of the boom folding intermediate element (12) or vice versa. An automatic folding boom for a crane according to claim 2, characterized in that: 4. The boom folding intermediate element (12) has two tops (33) longitudinally offset and connected to the lower frame (30) of said intermediate element (12) by side double triangles (35). , 34) and the other top (34)
The first top (33), which is slightly higher than the height of
A second top (34) receives the rod (39) or end of the body (37) of the jack (36) and a second top (34) connects the boom tip (13) to the boom leg (11). 4. The automatic folding boom for a crane according to claim 3, wherein the central contact of the mechanism (41) is received. 5. The boom leg (11) is formed at its front end with two parts symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal mid-plane of the boom (10) and has a height substantially equal to the height of the boom (10). A double support (49), wherein the support (49)
Is the first mechanism (42) of the coupling device set (40).
5. An automatic folding boom for a crane as claimed in claim 2, wherein the end supports a connecting shaft (47). 6. A coupling device set (40) having three articulated mechanisms supported by said dual support (49) and connected to an articulation shaft (4) arranged on a boom leg (11).
7) with the elbow-shaped lever (4) forming the central mechanism.
1) one or more first connecting rods (4) connected to a connecting shaft (48) arranged at the end of one branch (44).
2), wherein the elbow (46) of said lever (41) receives the connecting point of the second top (34) of the boom folding intermediate element (12) and comprises one or more second connecting rods (43). ) Connects the connecting shaft (50) disposed at the end of the other branch (45) of the central mechanism (41) to the fixed connection disposed at the rear end of the boom tip (13) upper frame (28). Point (5
6. An automatic folding boom for a crane according to claim 5, wherein the boom is connected to (1). 7. An automatic crane as claimed in claim 6, wherein the two branches of the elbow-shaped lever form an obtuse angle directed toward the inside of the boom. Folding boom. 8. The connecting device set (40) includes a boom (1).
0) made of two parts symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal mid-plane, each part of said set (40) comprising an elbow-shaped lever (41) and two double connecting rods (42, 43). )
The automatic folding boom for a crane according to claim 6 or 7, wherein: 9. The boom folding intermediate element (12) has a length substantially equal to the sum of the height of the boom leg (11) and the height of the boom tip (13). An automatic folding boom for a crane according to any one of claims 8 to 13. 10. A boom (10) is connected around a horizontal axis (19) at the top of a collapsible or telescoping mast (6) to constitute an automatic folding tower crane. An automatic folding boom for a crane according to any one of the preceding claims.